AU Central will be creating a new staff position to handle veterans’ affairs and AU’s growing student veteran population.
Office of Campus Life Vice President Gail Hanson said the University is still unsure when this position will be officially created and when the hiring process will begin.
“We’re a couple conversations short of how this is going to work,” Hanson said. “I can’t put a specific timeline on it, but it will be soon.”
Hanson said AU is helping veterans access their benefits, such as federal tuition funding from the GI Bill, and cope with school through the resources currently available.
“Veteran students have particular needs, and right now they need an expert,” she said.
AU has seen an increase in student veteran enrollment in recent years. Over 204 self-identified veterans are currently enrolled at AU and receive federal Veterans Affairs tuition benefits, according AU Central Associate Director Valerie Verra.
In 2010, 165 self-identified veterans attended AU, up from 119 student veterans in 2009.
“The number [of veterans] is growing and with that kind of capacity, we need someone full-time,” Hanson said.
Liaison network aids vets
AU offers help to veterans through a liaison network, which is co-chaired by Verra and Associate Dean of Students Michelle Espinosa.
AU chose to establish a liaison network rather than a physical Veterans’ Resource Center because they felt this best addressed their needs, Hanson said.
“We thought it would be most appropriate,” she said.
AU and Student Government considered creating a physical Veterans’ Resource Center in 2009, The Eagle previously reported.
“We wanted to create a one-stop resource place for veterans,” Hanson said. “Otherwise it would be taking away from other services.
Veterans work within this network to address issues with each AU department directly, according to Hanson.
Verra currently acts as the point person for finances and benefits assistance for veterans, in addition to her other duties. Espinosa addresses veterans’ medical and mental health.
The network offers a variety of academic, financial and other services from different AU faculty and staff in different departments, according to AU’s website.
Director of Disability Services Joanne Benica, Staff Clinician Charrise Hipol and Academic Counselor Jack Ramsay are some of the faculty and staff in the network.
The AU website provides additional information and links for veterans to better access federal veterans services, such as “A Guide to Choosing the Right GI Bill.”
Vets expect little from AU
AU Vets President John Kamin said veterans do not expect much help from the University because the veterans understand the University’s small amount of existing resources for veterans.
“Instead of telling the school what we need, we decided to just go ahead and do it,” he said, referring to the veterans’ decision to get what they need without going through the University.
Kamin said he believes the University does not seem to emphasis the presence of veterans on campus.
“However, the school presently commits little towards pursuing this goal — we do not have a resource center, a full-time staff position responsible for veterans or even a remote presence at student life,” he said in anemail.
But Kamin said veterans understand that their issues, such as accessing government benefits and transitioning into civilian life, are unique to both the University and the student body.
“We can’t expect them to be aware of these issues,” he said.
Kamin said AU Veterans plan to make students, faculty and staff more aware of their presence by holding events.
AU Vets will hold a veteran reception Nov. 11 for Veterans’ Day. They will also hold a conference in January to demonstrate to faculty how to better educate veteran students.
Veterans also spoke in College Writing classes earlier this fall for their summer reading book “The Good Soldier,” The Eagle previously reported.
AU Veterans want to be more active in the AU community and to offer advice to those on campus interested in the military, according to Kamin.
“We were also trying to tell the school we have stuff to give,” he said.
